Paul boca



(No Model.)

P. BOGA.

CARTRIDGE SHELL.

Patented Apr. 22,1884.

F'gi2 INVENTOR: WSW! y I By his .dttorneys, v/u,

WITNESSES UNITED STATES \PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL BOCA, or PARIS, FRANCE.

CARTRIDGE-SHELL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart-of Lett'ETSI'HTG'HCNGTZBZflSfHSLI'QdAprll22,1884.

Application filed December 22, 1853. (No model l To all whom it mayconcern: I

Be it known that I, PAUL BOOA, a citizen. of the French Republic, and aresident of Paris, France, have invented certain Improve; ments in theManufacture of Cartridges for Ordnance and Fire'Arms, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of cartridgcshells which are made ofcelluloid or other inflammable compound of pyroxyline. My object is toprovide a shell to contain the charge of powder that will be stiff andstrong, whereby it may be used for the heaviest charges, perfectlywater-proof, and capable of standing the official test of two meters ofwater pressure without injury, perfectly insect-proof, and of suchcharacter that the shell entirely disappears when the charge is fired.Such a shell I make from celluloid or other analogous compositioncontainingpyroxyline. By celluloid I characterize a compound ofpyroxyline and camphor or a solution of camphor in alcohol. My celluloidshellcomprises three elementsnamely, a tubular body, a flanged bottom,and a cap. The bottom is eenientcd in the end of a tubular body,preferably by means of a cement of the same material, and after thecharge of powder is inserted the cap is or may be cemented on in thesame manner. In order that the fire from the primer or fulminate-cap'maybe enabled to reach the powder in the shell without fail, the shell maybe made thinner at the point where the jet of flame impinges on it; butthis I do not consider necessary unless the shell is very' large andthick, as the celluloid is very com-- bus'tible.

In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention, Figure l isa-plan and edge view of a sheet of celluloid cut to form the body of theshell. Fig. 2 is a vertical mid.- section of the body or tube and an endview of same. Fig. 3 shows the bottom of the shell in transverse sectionand plan. Fig. 4 is a section of the body of the shell with the bottomin place and bottom or end view of same. Fig. 5 shows the cap-of thesame in transverse sect-ion and plan. Fig. 6 shows the body, bottom, andcap united to form the shell. Fig. 7 shows the charged shell providedwith a thin band of celluloid placed over the joint where the cap isattached to the body.

The tube or body a may be made with any section desired-as square,polygonal, 820.;

shape, and bend it around the mandrel or form, cementing the edge with,for example, celluloid softened or dissolved in camphorated'alcohol; orI may form the tube without ajoint by forcing previously-softenedcelluloid in mass through a die similar to that employed for lead orclay pipes. Thelower extremity of the tube has an inturned flange, andon this rests the flanged bottom b. This bottom is formed by subjectinga disk of celluloid to heat and pressure in a die. It is secured inplace by the celluloid cement, so as to form a firm damp-proof joint.The cover or cap c of the tube is constructed in the same manner as thebottom I), and is of the same form, but it takes over the outside of thetube or body. Its flanged margin is made, by preference, a little deeperthan that of the bottom. After having introduced the powder-into theshell the cap is placed thereon, and either cemented in place once forall or secured by a thin band of celluloid, d, as shown in Fig. 7, whichis cemented fast, and may be cut in order to remove-the powder.

To assist in the removal of the shell from the gun in case the charge isnot to be fired, I

may, for heavy charges, attach to the bottom I) a bridle or grip, g, ofwoolen fabric or other suitable material. This may be attached to b inany convenient way. In the same manner I may also attach a handle to thecap 0 in order to facilitate the handling of the charged shells.

As before stated, the shell may in themanufact-ure be made thinner atthe point where the fire from the fulminate strikes it than at otherpoints; and I may add that the shell may be readily made to conform insize, shape, and character to the particular gun it is designed to beused in. If designed for guns with percussion-locks, it may have thefulminate arranged in its cap, either at the com ter or in the rim.

flame the shell itself.

l find that the use of my shell does not visibly' modify the explosiveforce of the charge, but it slightly increases the initial velocity.

I -may, and generally prefer to, employ transpn rent celluloid for myshell, as this permits one to see the powder inclosed at any and alltimes and observe its condition; but the transparency of the celluloidhas no other advantage. Even with rapid firing little or no traces ofthe celluloid shells will be found in the gun. Such traces as may beleft will be found to be hard .and carbonaceous, and not of a charactertoincrust the bore.

Owing to the extreme rigidity and stiffness of even a thin shell madefrom celluloid, i am enabled to' employ my shell for the heaviest primerwill in eannoncharges without fear of their being 25 crushed ormisshapen by rough handling, and these are especially suited for the useof -warvessels, as they are very light comparatively and perfectlyimpervious to moisture.

I do not claim, broadly, the use of celluloid 3 for a cartridge'shell,as this has been before proposed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- As an improved article ofmanufacture, a cartridgeshell constructed of a tube, a. with an inturnedflange, a bottom, b, with afiange, and a flanged cap s, the said threeparts being madefrom celluloid or its specified equivalent, and cementedtogether, substantially as o set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

PAUL BOOA. Witnesses: 1

ARMENGAUD, Jeune, RoBT. M. HOOPER;

